-
Community
CRYSTAL FALLS – Marqueetown, a 2023 documentary with a connection to the Upper Peninsula and Iron County history, will be shown on Crystal Theatre’s big screen Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m.
The documentary focuses on the dedication of Marquette native Bernie Rosendahl in his attempt to restore the Nordic Theatre in downtown Marquette. Research about that theatre led filmmakers Joseph Beyer and Jordan Anderson to discover the cinema empire of Delft Theatres Inc.
In addition to the Nordic and the original Delft theatres in Marquette, the Wisconsin-based movie chain owned theatres in several other communities across the U.P. including Crystal Falls, Iron River, Escanaba and Munising.
Delft Theatres Inc. acquired Crystal Theatre in the late 1930s from its original owner, E.J. Bregger, a local man with a love of the arts. Then called The EJAY after its owner, residents enjoyed traveling vaudeville acts and silent films with live theatre organ accompaniment.
Despite the Great Depression, motion pictures were growing in popularity, even in the northwoods. Delft Theatres Inc. showed films for more than 30 years at the Crystal Falls venue. In Iron River, the Delft Theatre located on Adams St. opened in 1921 and operated until 1974; the theatre was demolished in 1977.
Marqueetown portrays the history of motion pictures through the screens of the cinema empire established by Delft Theatres Inc. The flashing lights of marquees in towns across the U.P. invited residents to escape their personal problems for a couple of hours and enter the thrilling, glamorous world of Hollywood in its Golden Age.
A conversation with filmmaker Joseph Beyer and producer Beth Milligan will follow the showing of Marqueetown. All tickets are $5, available at thecrystaltheatre.org or at the door.